Gear Review: G7 BR2 Ballistic Rangefinder

At the Gunwerks Long Range University, I soon figured out that knowing the range to your target is only a small part of the shooting solution. As the distances increase, more and more things that weren’t of consequence become very real considerations. A good ballistic program will ask for inputs on pressure, temperature, shot angle, and range and then use preconfigured inputs for ballistic coefficient of the bullet, muzzle velocity, sight height and zero range to provide a firing solution. In tandem with a good rangefinder you can get a very accurate prediction for the flight path of your bullet . . .

But what if you could have your ballistic computer and rangefinder in one convenient package? And what if that package allowed you to have load information for up to five gun/bullet combinations? Well read on to see what the G7 BR2 is capable of doing.

The G7 BR2 Rangefinder is the only rangefinder that ranges and calculates your ballistic solution for any shooting condition. Here’s how it works. The rangefinder is programmed for several ballistic parameters that are unique to your cartridge and firearm. Ballistic Coefficient, Muzzle Velocity, Sight Height and Zero Range are easily programmed on the device using the four input buttons. When selecting the MOA output mode no other inputs are required. If you are using a ballistic turret or reticle calibrated in yards, the BDC mode is selected and additional inputs for the Altitude and Temperature that the turret or reticle was built to match are entered.

To get your ballistic solution, press and hold the Fire button until the Line of Sight (LOS) range is displayed. As soon as a target is acquired, the sensors on board the BR2 measure the pressure, temperature, and shot angle. The LOS range is displayed for approximately 1.5 seconds while the ballistic computer calculates the firing solution, then it displays the correction in MOA’s (in MOA mode), or the Horizontal Ballistic Range (in BDC mode). For an MOA correction, just dial your scope turret the calibrated amount, or use an MOA reticle to hold the correction. If you are using a ballistic turret or reticle, you would dial your turret (or reticle hold) to the HBR.

For example, LOS range is 743 yards, but the BR2 correcting for air density and shot angle will display a HBR of 675 yards. Just dial the ballistic turret to 675. One button press and one turret dial to range, calculate the ballistic solution, and make the compensation. Nothing is faster or more accurate.

The device also calculates the exact wind hold solution based on your air density and shot angle. Just press a button and scroll through the wind correction in MOA in five mile per hour increments. The wind display calculation is our own patented technology and completes the ballistic solution.

Another unique feature is four distinct targeting modes that enhance target detection in tough light conditions and unsurpassed ranging in rain, snow, and fog. The targeting modes are Nearest Target, Farthest Target, Strongest Target, and Continuous (scan) Ranging. It has never been easier to range an Elk on a slope of burnt timber, or Pronghorn on the rolling plains, or Coyotes on a snow covered field.

In the two days that we took to the range, the G7 BR2 was absolutely invaluable for creating our range maps and computing our ballistic solution. And that product description isn’t fancy marketing speak. That’s real world stuff right there. The Gunwerks crew uses the BDC turret exclusively on their University guns so our instructor would range the target, give us our LOS range and then a “corrected” range that we would actually dial on our scope. He would follow this with our wind holds for 5, 10, and 15 mph.

In our classroom setting there wasn’t a huge difference in elevation, maybe five yards or so. But take your ballistic turret calculated for 5000 feet up to 10,000 feet and you can start to see some real difference. The G7 BR2 eliminates all of the hard thinking. When you are looking through the scope at a trophy elk you’ve been stalking for days, the last thing you want to do is math. With this system and a MOA or BDC turret, you can range your target, make your elevation adjustment, hold for wind and squeeze the trigger.

In the short time I got to use the BR2, I found the optics to be very clear, the ranging to be very accurate, the controls to be very nice and the computing to be very fast. This is an accurate and very well built unit that’s a great complement to any long range hunter’s gear bag.

Specifications: G7 BR2 Ballistic Rangefinder

• Dimensions: 5.09″x4.45″x2.10″
• Weight: 14.3 oz
• Functional Range: 1500 Yards
• Max Range: 2000 Yards
• Max Ballistic Compensation: 1400 Yards
• Magnification: 7X
• Beam Divergence: 2X4 Mrad
• Targeting Modes: Near, Far, Continuous
• Display: Backlight LED
• Battery: CR 123
• MSRP: $1599

Ratings (out of five stars):

Optical Clarity * * * * *
The field of view is excellent and clarity was seemingly unaffected by heat or mirage. I had no difficulty ranging targets out to 1300 yards.

Ranging Accuracy * * * * *
I had absolutely no issues getting the rangefinder to spit out the exact same range plus or minus one or two yards time after time.

Ballistic Calculation * * * * *
The calculations were spot on each and every time and allowed me to compensate correctly to make those long shots at 950 yards.